The ghostly apparition

The ghostly apparition side quest occurs inside the Saradush Prison during Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal but only during chapter 8.

Note: This quest and the appearances and triggers of the Prison Spirit was obviously designed assuming that the party entered the prison from the Saradush map - if the player first enters the prison from the Castle Saradush Basement then it can become confusing, because of the way the layout and locked doors are situated etc. Things explained here might not match up with the other alternative entry route - and it is advised to enter and clear the prison via the Saradush path and not the basement level path.

Aquisition[]

As the party explores the prison, fending off and destroying various Vampire attackers throughout, eventually in the far eastern portion of the complex they will trigger (hidden proximity trigger) an appearance of a Prison Spirit.

A dialogue box opens and initially reads:

You see a ghostly apparition of an emaciated old man wearing tattered rags. He tries to speak, but no words come out. With a look of sorrow in his eyes, he clutches his temples as if in agony, then vanishes.

This is the beginning of the quest although no journal entry registers at this stage.

Gameplay[]

After the initial curious meeting with the spirit, very nearby that spot is a barrel laying on its side, containing a random treasure and a Skull - the description of the skull says:

This skull is chipped and scratched; its surface scored with numerous tooth marks. - for now at least take this skull into the party's possessions.

Later on, in a corridor near the middle of the complex the party will trigger another appearance of the spirit - this time the dialogue box says:

Once again, the ghostly apparition of an old beggar manifests itself before you. He traces his spectral fingers around his neck as if trying to pantomime putting on a necklace. He points to the doors of the nearby cells, then vanishes once more.

As soon as the spirit vanishes (like a rising ghost animation) the first of two official journal entries is registered, reading:

Journal entry: The ghostly apparition

I encountered a spirit of an old man in the prison. He is unable to communicate, but is obviously trying to. From what I can gather, his gravesite has been defiled in some manner. Perhaps some elven holy water or something similar would put this spirit at peace... although he also seems to be miming for some kind of necklace... or perhaps it's something to do with his head... as well.

Check nearby (just south and west) in a small cell, and find a container that holds a Rusted Amulet - perhaps this is what the spirit meant with his gestures? - examining the object reveals a description as follows:

This tarnished trinket is of little value. Inscribed on the back are the words: "My love, I implore you to keep this pendant near you forever, even unto death and beyond."

Take this amulet into the party's inventory.

In a cell adjacent to the one with the Rusted Amulet is a container that is supposed to represent a "shallow grave" - there is a onetime text display that renders on the screen that reads:

In the corner of the room is a shallow grave which has been defiled. Within is a human skeleton, though the skull is missing.

With these clues and little else to try - place the Skull and Amulet in the shallow grave container.

After placing the two items, this triggers the spirit appearing again, this time near the shallow grave, and a dialogue box opens describing the following:

The spirit of the long-forgotten prisoner materializes beside his defiled gravesite. He points at the once-blessed ground with imploring eyes before vanishing once more. If you had some elven holy water, you could sanctify the defiled grave.

If the party possesses at least one vial of Elven Holy Water in their inventory, then automatically it is used to sanctify the grave, and another dialogue box opens, reading:

You sprinkle a few drops of elven holy water on the grave. The spirit appears once more, though its expression is now one of peace rather than anguish. It motions that it wants you to follow it.

This leads to a short cutscene (Cut224a.bcs) with the party assembled together by a cell that couldn't be opened before - the spirit opens the door and gestures inside the cell, then vanishes forevermore. The final journal entry now registers:

Journal entry: The ghostly apparition

Putting the ghost's skull and necklace into the shallow grave as well as using some elven holy water seems to have put the spirit at peace. It repaid me by opening a door which had been unopenable previously.

Each party member is awarded 10,000 XP, and inside the cell is a container holding the Bronze Ioun Stone.

Congratulations, the quest is finished, and a decent deed is done.